I saw ads on a localhost

Don't understand how

[RonPK]

For most sites that I operate or build, I've created a development version on my PC. That way I can use the database, Apache and PHP just like I would on the production server. Some of those sites have AdSense-ads on them. Until 5 minutes ago, I always got PSAs, but now I saw real, on-topic ads.

It first scared the #&$* out of me, because I always thought that Mediabot needs to check pages first before G knows which ads to serve. To 'view' pages on my local server, Mediabot would have to pass three firewalls: in modem, router and PC. And those firewalls have a clear purpose: to keep the outside world outside of my PC.

So I checked the access log: no hits from Mediabot.

Now I'm wondering: how does G know which ads to serve? They can't simply use my AdSense ID, as I use it on sites with very different subjects. Do they go by filename? Combine it with my IP and conclude "hey that must him working on his site, let's send him the usual ads"?
Anyone else ever seen this?

The ads I see are real ads - however they pay like PSAs ;)

[Gorilla]

The only information about the page Adsense has in this case is the file-url and that's what they use. The reason they pay 0 is because you clicked from a browser that was or has been logged into your Adsense account. I *strongly* advice against clicking ads on your own pages under any and all circumstances. We all know it's against the Adsense TOS.

[RonPK]

Interesting. I'll have to see how unique the filenames are. It's quite likely that they are the only ones on the WWW with Adsense.

I was only jokingly ranting about the low EPC I usually get; I never click my own ads.

[FromRocky]

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